LGBTQ Policy

Unclear: Affirming

What does this score mean?

Unclear: Affirming

The score for church websites that do notclearly communicate affirming LGBTQ+ policies.

Unclear websites locate policies in peripheral sections of the website (e.g. sermons). Affirming policies located in denominations’ websites do not count towards a church’s score, as affirming denominations do not require churches to be affirming.

Affirming policies place no restrictions on people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and/or Queer; they are allowed to participate and lead at all levels of church leadership and liturgy (e.g. marriage, ordination). Policies must specify both sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in their affirmation -- if only one is addressed, they will be scored as "unclear." Generic "we are inclusive" or "we welcome all" statements do not meet our standard for clarity.

Web Links

Exceprt:"Amazing things are possible when faithful Christians who know themselves to be part of the Body of Christ contribute towards the building up of the body. It takes incredible commitment to believe that we are ALL called into this body; that we cannot say to anyone “you do not belong,” or, “we have no need of you.” It takes the transforming power of love to recognize that all people, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, women or men, gay or straight, rich or poor, housed or homeless, of every race and nation and background are made one in Christ."

Reference Links

Notes

Its actively enforced policy regarding sexual orientation is vaguely communicated on website's primary pages and only clearly communicated in a sermon dated January 24, 2016. Its actively enforced policy only communicates affirmation of sexual orientation but not gender identity.

Women in Leadership Policy

Clear: Egalitarian

What does this score mean?

Clear: Egalitarian

The score for churches whose egalitarian policies are adequately reflected in the current leadership personnel as listed on their websites.

Clear: Egalitarian churches permit women to serve at all levels of leadership within a local church and have clear, adequate representation in leadership ranks. Adequate representation = at least one woman or non-binary person holds a pastor title or leadership team is at least 50% non-male; this information must be clearly presented on the website. The pastor title must be a title that is distinguishable from titles that women have in non-egalitarian churches.